USDA Appropriations Approved

July 12, 2002

The House Appropriations Committee approved USDA funding for fiscal year 2003 that begins Oct. 1, appropriating $56.7 billion in total mandatory funding compared to the $56.64 billion requested by President Bush.

Farm Service Agency salaries and expenses are increased by $38 million over fiscal 2002 to continue delivery of the farm ownership and farm operating loan programs. Total funding is $977 million, which is $17 million less than the president's request due to centralized funding of GSA rental costs. The committee does not recommend additional funding for implementation costs of the new farm law, because no formal budget request for such costs has been submitted.

Agricultural credit programs are decreased by $89 million below last year. Total loan authorization level is $3.8 billion, the same as the president's request.

The Agricultural Research Service is funded at $1.1 billion, a decrease of $114 million below last year, and an increase of $109 million above the president's request. Funding is provided to continue construction of a major facility consolidation and modernization project to meet high national priority animal health programs.

Risk Management Agency funding totals $70.7 million, a decrease of $4 million below last year and a decrease of $2 million below the president's request. The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation is funded at $2.9 billion, which is a decrease of $14 million below last year, and which is the same as the president's request.

Conservation operations activities are increased by $64.6 million over last year, bringing fiscal year 2003 funding to $843.6 million, an increase of $2.6 million more than the president's request.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service appropriation is increased by $40.2 million over last year, for a total of $755.8 million, a decrease of $7.3 million below the President's request. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service activities are funded at $115.4 million more than last year for a total of $740 million, which is a decrease of $31.1 million below the President's request.

The Food and Drug Administration is funded at $1.385 billion which is $16 million above last year and $7 million above the President's request.

Child Nutrition Program mandatory funding totals $10.576 billion which is $489 million above last year and the same as the President's request. The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is funded at $4.776 billion, an increase of $428 million above last year and an increase of $25 million above the President's request. The recommendation includes a $150 million reserve, as requested, should program costs or participation exceed estimates, as well as $25 million for the farmers' market nutrition program.